LIFE on Australia’s ‘Holiday Isle’ is not exactly a beach for former Aberfeldy-based councillor, Ken Lyall.

Since taking over an accommodation operation in Tasmania last October, it’s been all hands on deck for the new migrant who recently relocated from Scotland with his wife, Kath, and their two daughters, Caitlin and Megan.

The family’s new home, Bicheno's Ocean View Retreat, a 17-acre property, is only five minutes walk to the white sand beach, but even if they weren’t busy with guests, the window of opportunity for sun-tanning is slim.

“The weather here is a bit Scottish – very unpredictable and a lot of rain,” said the ex-cop, paramedic and SNP Perth and Kinross councillor, whose former Aberfeldy home is still on the market .

“It is warmer though, but not much – summer is anything from 18 to 25 degrees celsius, so not tropical but hot enough for our Scottish skin!”

In June last year, the heat was on when Ken stood down from his Highland ward after 12 years, citing his family’s imminent migration as the reason but conceding he was disillusioned with party politics.

The rot set in after a 2010 spat sparked a rift with Perthshire North MSP John Swinney and led to PKC leader and SNP Councillor Ian Miller temporarily suspending the maverick Highlander.

As the convener of Tayside Fire and Rescue Board at the time, Ken had refused to play ball when Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie jumped on a fire station issue in “a blatant attempt to help him get re-elected”.

But while he was smarting six months ago – claiming the SNP hierarchy had snubbed him – it’s all water under the bridge now with a new ‘no worries’ outlook Down Under.

“I miss many friends and some of my old council colleagues but I don't miss politics at all,” he said.

“The people here have all been so friendly and we’ve met a couple of Scots, which was nice.

“As the busy time is December to March – summer – we’ve been flat out but we did have a great Christmas when neighbours invited us around and New Year, when we had our first garden barbecue.

“No, we didn’t have any haggis, but I did track down some black pudding – it’s okay but not as good as home.

“Some things I miss very much are haddock, Irn Bru and prawn cocktail crisps and of course, playing rugby for the Atholl Highlanders.”

Geographically speaking, Bicheno, a tourist town, is roughly half the size of Aberfeldy, located on the east coast of Tasmania, an island south of mainland Australia two-thirds the size of Scotland with a population of only around 500,000.

While Caitlin (12) and Megan (10) have settled into their new schools – the primary school is small with a total of 90 pupils – Kath, a teacher, is looking for a part-time post but also helps Ken run the accommodation business.

“I think people in Scotland have it very good as here you have to pay for health care and everything else,” he said.

“There are no NHS dentists and the nearest ambulance is a two-hour drive away.

“There’s a voluntary ambulance and fire service, which I’ve been asked to join, and GP surgeries only open some of the time.

“Now, just think about the fuss in Kinloch Rannoch now!”

Despite a thinning out of tourist traffic in winter months, the Lyalls hope to run their business all year, bar two weeks in June, with plans afoot to establish a Laser Quest operation in adjacent bushland.

“But that will depend on whether the council let me – my 12 years on the PKC development control committee just might help!” he said.

Asked if he thought that migrating Down Under had been the right move, Ken said time would tell.

“I think so, I felt I had to get away from Scotland and I am happy here,” he said.

“I’m sure it will be great for the kids if they can get dual citizenship as that will open the world up for them.”

Check out the Lyalls’ Tasmanian retreat website at www.bichenooceanviewretreat.com/